A total of 21 chess players assembled at the Rhodes University Great Hall recently, to contest this year’s Rhodes Chess Open.
The tournament was played over five rounds. Defending champion, Khanya Qabaka looked unstoppable until he was late for his third round game. Still, with less than five minutes on the clock he forced a draw against fellow Rhodian, Loyiso Diniso.
Qabaka and Diniso won the rest of their games to both finish on 4.5 points out of 5, with Qabaka taking first place on tie-break. Dimitri Petermann, a Cradock High School pupil, had a good tournament finishing third with 4 points.
The women's winner was Anelisa Sani from Victoria Girls' High School.
Petermann and Sani also finished first and second respectively in the scholar section, with Dominik Petermann, also from VG finishing third.
“The tournament as always was keenly and fairly contested and was played in an excellent spirit,” said Andrew Martin, adjudicator for the championships. Martin also thanked Gareth Dywer “for his assistance with the draw, which was done with the assistance of a computer programme, and VG for sending no less than five pupils to play in this event”.
A total of 21 chess players assembled at the Rhodes University Great Hall recently, to contest this year’s Rhodes Chess Open.
The tournament was played over five rounds. Defending champion, Khanya Qabaka looked unstoppable until he was late for his third round game. Still, with less than five minutes on the clock he forced a draw against fellow Rhodian, Loyiso Diniso.
Qabaka and Diniso won the rest of their games to both finish on 4.5 points out of 5, with Qabaka taking first place on tie-break. Dimitri Petermann, a Cradock High School pupil, had a good tournament finishing third with 4 points.
The women's winner was Anelisa Sani from Victoria Girls' High School.
Petermann and Sani also finished first and second respectively in the scholar section, with Dominik Petermann, also from VG finishing third.
“The tournament as always was keenly and fairly contested and was played in an excellent spirit,” said Andrew Martin, adjudicator for the championships. Martin also thanked Gareth Dywer “for his assistance with the draw, which was done with the assistance of a computer programme, and VG for sending no less than five pupils to play in this event”.
